2018 Suzuki Skydrive Sport Ride Review : New Fashion Scooter

Suzuki brought out the new Skydrive Sport. It has been quite a while that they have been in this segment, and we are very happy that they are finally here and we know this scooter will be making an impact.

We had the privilege of being the first one to ride the Suzuki Skydrive Sport at zero mileage. It’s a statement that this scooter will carry the Skydrive name because Skydrive is a well-established Suzuki scooter and after riding this for a few minutes, we can say that this scooter lives up to the Skydrive name.  We have to stress that the Skydrive Sport is a NEW variant in the Skydrive line of scooters, since the former model is still in production.

First thing we noticed about the scooter are the sleek lines and noticeable front part. It gives that modern feeling as a rider because of the lines and the curves. The headlight has a hint of the GSX-R1000, in a smaller version of course. Not only you get a fresh new styling in Suzuki, if you look at the front, you’re going to see a family resemblance with its superbike line-up.

COMPACT AND SLIM

HEADLIGHT DESIGN CONCEPT INSPIRED FROM THE SUZUKI GSX-R

For its class, it has probably the biggest space for your legs, both your feet can fit and it has much better weather and wind protection. For practicality, it has both left and right deep pockets while other scooters only has one on one side. The presence of the utility pockets will be useful, and shows that the spaces in the scooter are maximized well. It still retains the hook. Again, it’s very surprising that at this segment, at this price level, you get this much scooter.

DUAL FRONT RACK – LARGE DUAL FRONT RACKS WITH UTILITY HOOK

KEY SHUTTER – HELPS PREVENT THE SCOOTER FROM THEFT

For the styling, from front to the rear, it’s very new in this segment. It is a fresh model in the segment.  The engine is very smooth because it is fuel-injected already so it’s in the entry-level. This entry-level class scooter has the Suzuki Eco Performance fuel-injection so it will guarantee the fuel-efficiency and good performance of the scooter. This new Skydrive has a new 113 cc engine. The best thing about this is that because it is fuel-injected, you could expect to have a lot of mileage with every full tank of gas.

113CC POWERFUL ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH SUZUKI FUEL INJECTION

TAIL LIGHT INSPIRED FROM THE GSX-R – A MODERN AND EDGY LOOKING SCOOTER

But what impressed us the most, and we are all unanimous in saying this, is the handling of this scoot. The name gives it away – Skydrive Sport. In spite of its size, it was very stable both at low and high speeds. You can turn at a dime and during heavy traffic and even for those who want to ride it to MARILAQUE, you will surely enjoy this. We had a great time riding it on curves because of the light handling and sticky tires. We also liked the stock tires. The stock tires that it comes with are already very good in terms of grip and traction. It is adequate for sporty riding. The handling is what makes this scooter sporty.

FRONT DISC BRAKE – FOR MORE STOPPING POWER

Usually when there’s a new bike, we would suggest changing it to stickier tires, but with the IRC tires installed here, you won’t need to do that anymore. When you ride this scooter, it doesn’t feel like a small scooter. The ergonomics is good. The feeling that we get is that it is a very easy to ride scooter, the engine is smooth, the braking is very friendly, and the handling is super easy so it’s not going to make beginner riders be afraid of riding. The suspension plays well. The braking system matches well with the power of the scooter. The acceleration is so smooth and is not abrupt. Bear in mind that since this is only a First Ride account, we will be putting this newest scooter from Suzuki on a longer test once we get the units for our First Impression review.

As a summary, the Skydrive Sport for its price is good value because in this segment, it is probably one with the newest shape and the biggest. And based on the short test ride, we think the engine will be one of the best also. We highly recommend this new scooter for those who want to start riding because not only it is very economical, but also user-friendly. To all the younger riders and those who has the fear of riding a scooter, we say it is the best time to try one with the Skydrive Sport. For the young ones today, if you want to stand out, this is the scooter for you.

*This article was published in InsideRACING’s Volume 16 Number 8 issue last August 2018.